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Dortmund routs Hamburg 5-1 in Bundesliga

BERLIN(AP) Borussia Dortmund surged level on points with Bayern Munich and Schalke at the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday following a 5-1 rout at Hamburger SV in the first round after the winter break.

Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski both scored twice as Dortmund inflicted Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink's first league defeat after eight games unbeaten.

``We played very badly. We don't need to analyze it too much,'' Fink said. ``I think we simply paid too much respect to them.''

Kevin Grosskreutz scored in the 16th minute for the visitors, Lewandowski found the net in the 37th and set up Blaszczykowski in the 58th.

Blaszczykowski, Poland's captain, claimed his second from the penalty spot in the 76th, before Lewandowski added another goal in the 83rd for the defending champions.

Jose Paolo Guerrero scored an 86th-minute consolation for the hosts.

Dortmund climbs ahead of Schalke to second behind Bayern on goal difference, while Moenchengladbach is a point behind the top three.

``Bayern are favorites and they stay favorites,'' Grosskreutz said.

Bayer Leverkusen beat Mainz 3-2 later Sunday but almost threw away a two-goal lead after Zdenek Pospech's 11th-minute own goal and Manuel Friedrich's header from a corner against his former side in the 35th.

Eugen Polanski revived the visitors' hopes when he pounced on the rebound from Bernd Leno's save in the 50th, and Marco Caligiuri equalized with a delightful chip over Leno three minutes later.

However, Lars Bender put the home side back in front with another header from a corner in the 70th. Leverkusen held on for the win, though Michal Kadlec was fortunate not to give away a last-minute penalty after catching Adam Szalai with his leg.

Mainz's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also hit the post in the final play of the match.

``Thank God Lars saved us,'' Leverkusen forward Andre Schuerrle said. ``Hopefully the win means the team will be left in peace.''

Many Dortmund fans traveled to Hamburg but remained outside the stadium to protest against the cost of entrance prices, which start at 19 ($24.60) for a standing ticket.

Despite playing without playmaker Mario Goetze due to a groin injury and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller because of a back problem, Dortmund made a blistering start.

Wonderful play from Shinji Kagawa created the opening goal, the Japan midfielder eluding the Hamburg defense with a swerve before finding the unmarked Grosskreutz to shoot past goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny.

Lewandowski had a goal ruled out for a foul by Lukasz Piszczek but then scored a fine individual effort. The Poland striker played the ball through Heiko Westermann's legs, eluded Dennis Aogo before knocking it beyond the helpless Drobny.

Blaszczykowski effectively decided the matter when Lewandowski set him up to drill a low shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

When Dennis Diekmeier brought down substitute Moritz Leitner, Blaszczykowski seized the chance to make it 4-0.